2006 Archives - The Monster Island Film Vault

Bonus Episode #21 – ‘Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo’ & ‘The Last Dinosaur’ | Patreon

Published October 16, 2026

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! In this Patreon-sponsored double feature solo episode, Nate analyzes two completely unrelated movies. Well, sorta related movies. One is animated, and the other was made by a studio famous for animation. Both are TV movies. One features superheroes, and the other was a co-production with a studio that made a famous superhero. These are, of course, Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2006) and The Last Dinosaur (1977). The former features a pair of kaiju and many tokusatsu references. The latter is a co-production between Rankin-Bass (the studio that gave us Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer) and Tsuburaya Productions (which makes this Ultra Journey adjacent). Both were more interesting than Nate expected, especially Last Dinosaur. If only the book he read on the making of the film wasn’t so pretentious. Listen to hear more!

This episode was edited by Nick Adam with Nathan Marchand.

Additional Music: “Teen Titans Theme Song” by Puffy AmiYumi, “The Last Dinosaur” by Nancy Wilson.

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip, and Henshin Power V3!

We’d like to give a shout-out to our free MIFV MAX patrons on Patreon: Cordell Stevens, John Pannozzi, Jacob Heron, Cool Cat Videos, Bransbow, Sean Sullivan, Frankie Wolf, Russel Hale, FRIEN Jadge, Bob Hard, ArtsieSteph, Robert O’Brien, DD Chief, Kaye, Nobody, The Indiscrite One, Clayton Warden, Enigma, Dave Blanken, Patrick Greenlaw, Mikki, Josh Baughan, Shane Cochran, Francis Chopin, and Geek 3D Art.

You, too, can join MIFV MAX on Patreon to get this and other perks starting at only $3 a month! (https://www.patreon.com/monsterislandfilmvault)

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This episode is approved by the Monster Island Board of Directors.

Timestamps:

0:00-2:30: Introduction
2:30-23:48: ‘Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo’ Analysis
23:48-58:15: ‘The Last Dinosaur’ Analysis
58:15-1:00:34: Culture Box Ad – Henshin Power V3
1:00:34-1:17:54: Outro (listener feedback, housekeeping, etc.)
1:17:54-end: Credits

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#JimmyFromNASALives, #MonsterIslandFilmVault, #kaiju, #daikaiju, #giantmonsters, #teentitans, #thelastdinosaur, #tsuburayaproductions, #dinosaurs, #dccomics, #rankinbass

Bibliography/Further Reading:

“Brushogan.” Teen Totans Wiki. https://teentitans.fandom.com/wiki/Brushogun.

“Deka-Mido.” Teen Titans Wiki. https://teentitans.fandom.com/wiki/Deka-Mido.

Derendorf, Kevin. Kaiju for Hipsters: 101 “Alternative” Giant Monster Movies. Maser Press, 2018.

Galbraith IV, Stuart. Japanese Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films: A Critical Analysis and Filmography of 103 Features Released in the United States, 1950-1992. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. 1994.

Homenick, Brett. “CHASING ‘THE LAST DINOSAUR’! A Candid Conversation with Joan van Ark!” Vantage Point Interviews. 19 Aug. 2018. Updated 19 March 2021. https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2018/08/19/chasing-the-last-dinosaur-a-candid-conversation-with-joan-van-ark/.

Homenick, Brett. “ON THE TRAIL OF ‘THE LAST DINOSAUR’! A Candid Conversation with Rankin/Bass Associate Producer Benni Korzen!” Vantage Point Interviews. 13 June 2022. https://vantagepointinterviews.com/2022/06/13/on-the-trail-of-the-last-dinosaur-a-candid-conversation-with-rankin-bass-associate-producer-benni-korzen/.

“Kazuo Sagawa.” Wikizilla. https://wikizilla.org/wiki/Kazuo_Sagawa.

“Last Dinosaur, The.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076294/.

“Last Dinosaur, The.” Ultraman Wiki. https://ultra.fandom.com/wiki/The_Last_Dinosaur.

“Last Dinosaur, The.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Dinosaur.

LeMay, John. The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies, Volume 1: 1954-1982 (2nd edition). Bicep Books, 2017.

LeMay, John. Writing Japanese Monsters. Bicep Books. 2020.

Smith, B. Harrison. Making The Last Dinosaur. BearManor Media, 9 June 2023.

“Teen Titans.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Titans.

“Teen Titans (TV Series).” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Titans_(TV_series).

“Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo.” IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816671/?_ssoLoop=1.

“Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo.” Teen Titans Wiki. https://teentitans.fandom.com/wiki/Teen_Titans:_Trouble_in_Tokyo.

“Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Titans:_Trouble_in_Tokyo.

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Jimmy’s Notes on Episode 92: ‘The Host’ (2006) vs. the Omni Viewer

Published May 27, 2024

We’re fixing to leave South Korea. I’m going to miss this country. The food is great. The people are nice. And it’s where I proposed to my wonderful fiancée! As tumultuous as its history has been since WWII, it’s really come a long way. Hopefully, its kaiju culture will be continue to be centered on its own monsters and not fake ones. Episode 92 (The Host vs. the Omni Viewer) is our last main episode in South Korea, so here are my notes on it.

Nate secretly wants to start a toku politics show. He’s determined to prove to the Daily Wire hosts—especially the other Matt Walsh—that nerd culture is legitimate and not populated entirely by smelly weirdos with no social skills. That’s just 90 percent.
The better question is, who is the Batman and who is the Robin between us, Nate? We all know that answer…Robbie. 😛
It’s a good leader who knows how to delegate. Plus, I’m friends with Sir Lex. We hang out on the same steampunk enthusiast message boards.
Not that damaged? Did you forget what that fat spider and Yongary did to Uber-Moguera?!
At least Lex understands my delicate jerry-rigging. That’s more than I can say for the mechanics back on the Island.
I got on that meme:

Marchand was referring to My Stepmother is an Alien (1988). It was rated PG-13 and starred Dan Aykroyd, Kim Basinger, and Jon Lovitz. Fun fact: a South Korean Baskin-Robbins named an ice cream flavor after this movie, “Mom is an Alien.”
I got caught by the Trope once. I don’t want to talk about it. He’s a weirdo.
For the record, I’d never sell Nate out…or would I?
The species of fish that eats off of sharks’ skin is the remora.
You survive a war (in space) and see if you don’t have ‘Nam, er, Venus flashbacks!
And I do tie half my brain behind my back to make it fair…metaphorically speaking. It’d require too much surgery too often, otherwise.
I got a text from Jessica, and she says she’s not going anywhere near Rita’s wand! “The last thing I need is a giant Baka!” she said.
I’m pretty sure Nate has given population of Seoul before, but it’s estimated as of 2024 to be 10,004,840.
You can’t be a fan when you’re a producer? That’s certainly true in Hollywood.
Let’s not talk about the Mighty Peking Man. It’s still a sore spot for Kaguya.

Up next, we have a huge panel discussion of Godzilla vs. Hedorah (aka Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster) for “Godzilla Redux” with Ben Avery, Daniel DiManna (again), and Matt and Gratton of Giant Monster BS. Who’d have thought this weirdo film would be this popular! Then we wrap up our South Korean coverage with a solo bonus episode on War of the God Monsters (aka The Flying Monster). Then, as Nate nervously mentioned, we go north to catch Pulgasari with Tomi Trembath of Giant-Sized Violence and Transcending Comics. Good thing Sir Lex put my robot back together properly.

Until next time, remember…we shall overcome!

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Episode 92: ‘The Host’ (2006) vs. the Omni Viewer

Published May 27, 2024

Hello, Kaiju Lovers! After several months in Seoul, Nate finally reaches the point where Korean kaiju cinema comes into its own: Bong Joon-ho’s The Host (2006). He’s joined by YouTuber and author Omni Viewer and his “kaiju” sidekick, Snazzy Chapeau, to discuss this momentous film. While it arguably has more in common with Jaws than Godzilla (1954), its effect on Korean culture was as significant as the latter was for Japan and King Kong (1933) was for America. It was inspired by a uniquely Korean issue/experience and catapulted Korean culture and Joon-ho onto the world scene. Speaking of which, the Toku Topic is the true story that is recreated and dramatized in the film: the McFarland Incident. Also, there are periodic reports from Sir Adam Lexington, a friend of Omni’s, as he repairs Uber-Moguera.

Read Jimmy’s Notes on this episode!

Check out Nathan’s spinoff podcasts, The Henshin Men and The Power Trip. Henshin Power V3 coming July 10, 2024!

We’d like to give a shout-out to our MIFV MAX patrons Danny DiManna (author/creator of the Godzilla Novelization Project); Damon Noyes, The Cel Cast, TofuFury, Eric Anderson of Nerd Chapel, Ted Williams, Wynja the Ninja, Brad “Batman” Eddleman, Christopher Riner, The Indiscrite One, Eli Harris, Jake Hambrick, Matt Walsh (but not that Matt Walsh), Jonathan Courtright, Leon Campbell, and Michael Watson! Thanks for your support!